This course is scheduled in a computer lab/classroom so students can learn the computer skills necessary for success in today's journalism field.

The Department of Language and Literature has determined that journalism courses will require a 5000 word minimum in writing assignments.

VI. Catalog Course Description

This workshop course stresses the production of a video news webcast. Students conduct interviews, write scripts, shoot and edit digital video, and help produce a news webcast that can be shown online. Students learn to use digital videos cameras and editing software.

VII. Required Course Content and Direction

Learning Goals:

Course

Students will:

demonstrate an understanding of the importance of staying abreast of current events;

conduct an interview;

identify the basics of video script-writing;

use digital video cameras and editing software;

demonstrate an understanding of the press freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment, as well as libel law; and

generate their own story ideas and produce digital video reports for the webcast.

assess the credibility of a communication and the strength of claims and arguments. (Evaluation Skills);

Information Literacy

Courses satisfying Information Literacy must meet every objective. The students learn and practice the skills of identifying the need for information, and gathering, evaluating, and documenting that information in their program areas.

Students will:

determine the nature and extent of the information needed;

determine the technologies and information formats appropriate for the information identified;

access needed information effectively and efficiently;

evaluate information and its sources critically and incorporate selected information into their knowledge base and value system;

develop an understanding of many of the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information and access and use information legally and ethically.

Responsible Citizenship

The students develop an understanding of the need for each individual to promote the public good, an awareness of environmental issues, or recognition that their actions carry responsibilities and consequences.

Students will:

demonstrate an understanding of major ethical concerns;

identify the effects of a person’s actions on the community.

Planned Sequence of Topics and/or Learning Activities:

Reading

Students will read assigned chapters from the textbook and take quizzes based on those readings. They will take weekly news quizzes and be required to read a newspaper or news website on a daily basis; they will demonstrate that they understand the importance of staying abreast of current events and know where to find a variety of news outlets and sources, including online and in print.

Writing

Students will write a series of scripts for their webcast reports and use a variety of computer software to shoot and edit their digital videos. Students learn collaborative skills in working with other members of the class in producing the webcast.

Journalism Fundamentals

Students will determine the newsworthiness of events; they will conduct interviews and use the reporting tools used by journalists; they will use the computer software necessary for shooting and editing digital video. Students will obtain information from a variety of sources, including internet websites, electronic databases, such as Lexis/Nexis and EbscoHost, and they will critically evaluate various sources of information for accuracy.

Assessment Methods for Core Learning Goals:

Course

Students take a series of quizzes based on the readings in the course textbooks.

Students take weekly news quizzes to assess their knowledge of current events.

Students write a series of video scripts to assess their news writing skills.

Students produce a series of video reports for the class webcast.

Core (if applicable)

Information Literacy: Articles produced for the course are evaluated on the student’s ability to determine the most effective and efficient sources of information, including internet websites, electronic databases such as Lexis/Nexis and EbscoHost, and public records, learn how to obtain information from these sources, and demonstrate that they are able to incorporate the information without infringing copyright.

Responsible Citizenship: Through discussions and evaluation of their writing, students will be assessed on their understanding of plagiarism, libel, and objectivity and fairness of news coverage. By studying and evaluating specific examples of newspaper work by professionals, students demonstrate their understanding of the need to promote the public good and recognition that their actions carry responsibilities and consequences.

Critical Thinking/Problem Solving: Through evaluation of their news stories, students are assessed on their ability to judge the reliability of a variety of sources of information, both live and online. Students are also assessed on their ability to overcome obstacles and solve problems in the newsgathering process by finding alternative information sources when the most common sources are unavailable or not adequate.

Reference, Resource, or Learning Materials to be used by Students:

Texts: Instructors must select an introductory text that focuses on the process of reporting, scriptwriting and the shooting and editing of digital video. Other texts may include reference texts selected by the instructor. See course format

VIII. Teaching Methods Employed

Section VIII is not being used in new and revised syllabi as of 12/10/08.